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Monday, January 23, 2012

Sittin' on my soap box....

Okay - I am not big into making a big deal about what people say. I really try to just let it go because some people just say things without thinking and I don't think they are trying to offend and for the most part I am not offended. But, I am still human and some things just bother me. I was reading a facebook thread asking quilters if they want their quilts custom quilted or if they prefer a simple all-over by their Long Arm quilter. It was fun reading what people were saying until one lady said "I don't cheat, I hand quilt all my quilts." (While this comment was not directed to me I took it personally as a long arm quilter).

HUH?!!? Cheat? Really - so I guess I have been cheating all this time.

So, here is my response to that comment. Is it cheating to use your sewing machine to piece a quilt? I am sure our ancestors would have LOVED a sewing machine. Just because you prefer to hand quilt doesn't mean it is cheating.

I absolutely love every aspect of the quilting process. Everyone has their style and preference and that is absolutely great. I think hand quilting is a beautiful art and if you love it - DO IT! I just don't want to. I prefer to free motion quilt on my long arm , while others use their computer guided long arms - that is just fine too because it is art no matter how you look at it.

Isn't the end result of seeing a finished project the best feeling to every type of quilter out there?

I live in Berks County which is adjacent to Lancaster County, PA. We have more than our share of hand quilting mavens. It takes special talent and artistry to do the kind of quilting that you do on a long arm. I think there is room at the table for everyone...and quilters and machine quilters alike. While I think well done hand quilting is beautiful, it is an entirely different art form than long arm quilting and the two really should not be compared...in my opinion! :)

Well said, Suzan - the two are entirely separate art forms. It is useless to compare them to each other in terms of merit, for in either technique, you get lousy or spectacular results depending on the skill, talent, and careful attention devoted to the execution. Judi, you have an incredible talent with longarm quilting, and a dedication and attention to detail to match.

What that gal said was like interjecting into an apple pie discussion: "I don't cheat, I use real butter in chocolate chip cookies." Don't let it rattle you - it came from misplaced perception.

To me it's all about ending up with a finished quilt, whether it's hand quilted, machine quilted by me, long arm quilted by someone else or even tied for that matter. I just want to be creative and do the best that I can do. :0)

A quilt is a quilt is a quilt. There are all sorts of quilts: appliqued quilts, hand pieced quilts, machine pieced quilts, art quilts, embellished quilts, quilts that are hand quilted and quilts that are machine quilted. There are no quilt police and there is no right or wrong. There is no cheating. Whatever is right for you and the quilt. There is a place for all. You go girl. Your quilting is UNBELIEVABLE and anyone who has not seen your quilting is missing out on WOW eye candy.

Does it matter if you push the needle with a machine or your fingers? I think not! I used to hand quilt - Stil do sometimes, just restored an old quilt but I LOVE to machine quilt. Everybody to their own!CheersLinda

i had a friend tell me that i was cheating on my home machine quilting ( she ties all hers ) i have been to quilt shows and have yet to see any hand quilting to compare with your machine quilting that said i have been hand quilting the same quilt for about 4 yrs now ugg!! i wish i had a long arm and could quilt half as well as you keep it up and dont take it parsonel

I guess we could say hand quilters have nothing better to do with their lives except to take a year to do what you could do in a matter of hours. To each is own. I prefer the look of machine quilted quilts myself, and look forward to one day owning my own long arm to do it too.

I've done both, and there is an art to both hand quilting and machine quilting. I think they both have their place, but one is not better than the other. There are incidents of women quilting with their treadle machines when they first came out, so there is an historical basis in machine quilting. I don't think that matters, though. If you're a purist, you shouldn't use rotary cutters or any of the modern tools we use today, but there is nothing wrong with our art "evolving" with new standards.

Well I guess its cheating to "write" a book using a keyboard, instead of using a fountain pen.

I DO have an issue when in judged quilt shows,long arm quilted quilts are judged against those quilted on a standard home sewing machine. The skill set is different, as is time involved. I think they should be separate categories

I've had my long arm for a little more than a year now and I must say it is not cheating. It takes practice and skill to long arm quilt. I have always been a hand quilter and I love hand quilting - my hand quilting is exceptional. I use to think that if I got a long arm it would be so cool to just whip out the quilts in no time. I was so wrong and I'm the 1st to admit it. Granted it doesn't take as long to quilt a quilt but it definately takes skill. I hope to one day have my quilts look as good as yours.

My husband's aunt made a comment once about it not being really a quilt unless it was hand quilted. I proceeded to take her off my list of people to give a quilt to. Now my mother-in-law wants me to make one for this aunt since she's been diagnosed with Alzheimers. I will probably do it because my MIL asked though.

It's all a matter of personal preference and doing the best you can, with what you have. Your long arm quilting is outstanding and you definitely have a God given talent; keep using it and don't worry what anyone else says!

I'm with you honey - I love the look of hand-quilted quilts but if I ever did one it would take me forever to achieve the look I wanted. I would probably give up through boredom and shove it in a drawer somewehere. However, I love machine quilting on my janome - I can really get into the flow and freedom but boy do I feel it in my arms. Sometimes it is more artistic than others, sometimes I just want a quick but no less attractive result. That is the beauty of a quilt, there are so many ways to piece them, quilt them, finish them. What a boring old world it would be if they were all hand quilted. There is room in this world for more quilts, hand quilted or otherwise and equally creditable as works of art - or works of heart as I call them. You are certainly an artist for the designs you create and I'm pretty envious of both your long-arm and talent with it. Definately not a cheat but a world-class-expert using a long-arm as a tool.

My only dispute is when they're judged against each other. To me, hand quilting and machine quilting are different (as are painting and drawing) and deserve their own categories in competitions. But which we have on our quilts should be totally up to us. I don't believe it's not a quilt unless it's hand quilted even though that's my preferred method.

Sounds like a quilt snob to me - I think what matters is that a quilt is made with love! And personally I LOVE the way you quilt (serious envy here!) and I don't think you could do it so beautifully if you didn't love it!

The same kind of bickering goes on in every aspect of the art field. I work with photo realism in graphite... The oil painters say that their craft is what makes a true artist. UMM, Don't think so. Could I work in oil?? Ahhh Yah, but don't want to! More power to those talented individuals that do.

Then I learned to make a quilt top last year. It is my new love. :) I see the same type of arguements. Designer fabric - versus - Non designer. Hand pieced - versus - Machine pieced. Hand quilted - versus- Machine quilted. Let's not even go into sewing machine brands! ;) Could everyone use or do both? More than likely. Are all of these artists true Quilters... You bet!

Good heavens, are we a bunch of pecking chickens or human beings? I could have hand pieced my first top, but I want to piece by machine. I do enough hand work with embroidery. I might attempt to hand quilt the top... or maybe not! And let me add, the post office needs to get some money here and there. If there are long arm quilters out there (willing to save me precious time to create more tops) I'm sending them some business! ;)

Cheat is such a nasty word... offensive and rude. I am so glad that the commentor thought so highly of herself!;) I am so amazed by all of the different processes that people use to create a quilt. Everyone is talented and has every right to be proud of their work!

Don't let the comment bug you for a minute Judi. You are an important part of making heirlooms for future generations. I love your work and hope to be able to create some quilt tops to be worthy of long arm quilting! :)

What a thoughtless thing for this person to say. My friend has this huge quilting machine and I longingly look at it, wishing I had one, but then first of all, the only place it would fit is in lounge (without any furniture in it) and secondly, I don't think I would have the skill. I struggle to sew a straight line with a normal sewing machine. I think there is great skill in what the quilters do with the long arm machines. If I was on the group I would be tempted to ask her if she pieces all her patchwork together by hand too?

Don't feel it too much. This person is only trying to build herself up by putting others down. I don't know you very well, but here's a big hug :)

I think each should do what they like best and never criticize another person's preferences. The last thing I would ever want a new quilter to think after reading one of my comments, is that I am a SNOB.

Cheating? Are you kiddin' me? It's just another member of the quilt police opening their mouth and inserting their foot clear to the knee. They don't realize that those unthoughtful, hurtful comments only show that they are very small-minded. I can certainly understand your indignation. Just know that there are so many of us out there who would give their eyeteeth to have even a thimbleful of your talent, especially me!

At one time my nose was in the air(high) about machine quilting. I started out as a hand quilter, however, I now machine quilt. It took a lot of practice to get as good as I am and I continue to improve. My dh will remind me how high my nose was and my thoughts on machine quilting. I appologize for this comment you read. It wasn't me, however, I may have said it years ago and inadverdently hurt some one elses feelings. Machine quilting styles has improved from the early years.

That women is crazy, long arming is so hard! My mom has done it for years and I tried for the first time the other day and it was definitely not cheating! Machine quilting is beautiful and another wonderful artform. Thank you for your beautiful work, it's inspiring!

I ran into that too. I made a baby quilt for someone that was paying me and had it long arm quilted. She refused it saying it wasn't "mine", that she wanted something that was totally done by me. :( I made her another one and just tied it, and it was actually pretty and came out well. I just learned a lesson that day not to assume and let my clients know everything about the quilt before hand. :) It is funny though how people can be.

I decided I would use every new quilting aid I could afford. I even have the quilting calc app on my iPad. I embrace new ways to do things. If I want an authentic pioneer quilt then maybe I would do it all by hand but I just want a lovely quilt :)

You have to understand that person probably learned to quilt under a different mindset. When I first started quilting in the 1990s machine quilting was really just starting to publish books but most everyone hand quilted! It scared me . It was why I learned to love pearl cottons and never made a quilt bigger then a throw and that was hand quilted and stitched in the ditch. It is that attitude that I was up against that scared me out of quilting(and other fators too) for ten years. Im so glad there is such variety now adays.

Well said, Judi!I love hand quilting, but I prefer longarm quilting. Few of us got time to hand quilt all of the quilts we're making, but now and then we can make that special one with hand stitches if we like. I find a lot of inspiration on your blog, since I'm REALLY a newbie in longarm quilting. Happy sewing,Laila

I prefer longarm quilting because it is so more more durable. I am not good at hand quilting and I don't have a longarm quilting machine. It's personal preference. I would love to have you quilt all my quits, Judi, because you are a fabulous quilter!!Joan

Well said! I love hand quilting and would love to be able to do all of my quilts that way. My hands, however, disagree. I also have so many projects going that without the help of a talented machine quilter, I'd just have to give up on any new ones. I love your work and am constantly amazed at your talent.

Back in the 1980's I kind of felt the same way. At that time a long arm quilter had very few options and frankly, I didn't like what was available. It resembled what could be found at Penney's or Kmart. Now, though, the options are limitless and machine quilting is a part of our art of quilting. I am making one of the Farmer's Wife quilts and will send it off to be hand quilted, but the other 20 quilts I make this year will be machine quilted by my longarm quilters. If I had to wait or do it all myself, I would have a huge closet full of unfinished quilts that no one would be using or enjoying. Some of my quilts have custom designs and others are quilted with an allover design. I LOVE them all! Judy, you are FEARLESS and I admire your quilting skills and dedication to this art. Keep it up!!

What's that old song..."If loving you is wrong, I don't want to be right." LOL I have seen hand quilting that was gorgeous and I've seen quilts quilted on a long arm that brought tears to my eyes they were so beautiful. They are both forms of art...

I agree. I am making a quilt for my brother and his upcoming wedding. I am already anticipating the comments... like oh you machine piece and quilt. They have no idea that the designs are so much perfect and beautiful and the amount of perfection and care that goes into a quilt now is just amplified with the use of machines but is in now way cheating. It still is tons and tons of work and now they are just better than quilts of past. Not to take away from what they did because that was fabulous. Just saying we are pretty awesome too. I love the cheating part. I cheat too, lol.

Along with rotary cutters, mats, acrylic template, shortcut piecing, etc., etc., etc., along with long arm machine quilting, I do believe our quilting ancestors would have loved to have what we have today. Some people just have to be rude and mean spirited. I don't understand why, though.

Well I agree with you! Here's how it was explained to me by the "experts". 100 years from now hand quilted quilts will be collectable and my machine quilted quilt will be worth nothing. My thoughts to that statement is I make my quilts to be used, if they make it 30 years I'll be impressed. Most hand quilters cherish and don't use there quilts for everyday use.

Everyone is a critic, it seems! Your work is absolutely stunning and I imagine the lady who hand quilts has had similar said about her work also. So, to each his/her own and here's to an end to all the bickering, shall we say!

Good Grief! People can be so silly sometimes! If that lady can hand quilt and loves to do it, more power to her. As for me, if I had to hand quilt my quilts I wouldn't be a quilter at all! I make little quilting squiggles of my own on small things, but for larger quilts, off to the long arm quilter every time, and money well spent! The lady who quilts for me has never failed to turn my nice quilt into something special and bless her for her talents. Your work is truly stunning, I've never seen anything like it. When you finish with a quilt, it is always a work of art.

Hi Judi! You know, sometimes people open their mouth to explain how big and best they are and their goal is to show how much important is their way to live, to think, to do everything. But our way to do things is never the best because everyone find the method that is the best for them( sorry for the awful english..). Don't feel touched by ugly comments; you are an artist and the feeling of art is very personal. The latins said: DE GUSTIBUS NON DISPUTANDUM EST. They were right! Baci. Barbara from Italy

Unbelievable - some people need to think a little before they start writing such things - they can't be that put out by progress or developments since they were using a computer and the internet - what's wrong with just say 'I prefer hand quilting to machine quilting of any kind'. Come on be honest here, hand quilting would never give the stunning effects and patterns that you achieve with your long arm quilting machine, and personally I love them

I've been quilting since the early 80s (OK-I am older). The war between "purists" who are hand quilters and the machine gals has been going on for a long time. There is room for both in quilting. I love my machine after first trying the hand quilting route. I really do love my machine! And, I think long arm quilters are doing some of the most gorgeous work I have ever seen. So don't listen to anyone. You long arm gals are incredible and I love my long arm quilter. She makes me look good! If I had the room and money, well, I might venture into the long arm world myself. But for now I will keep calling Elizabeth whenever I have a quilt top ready for her magic touch.

Some people like Coffee, some like tea! LOL! I think what you do is an amazing art and I only wish I was as creative and sure handed as you!! Poop on people who can't appreciate what each person does!! Hand quilting is an art as well and people who can do it are just as amazing, but we all have our own talents and should not put down others! Have some respect people!! (You want I kick them in the shins for you LOL)

I would like to see her hand quilt something that you do. Although hand quilting is beautiful it has it's limits, you have proven what those limits are. Can she hand quilt all the swirls and loops that you do? Can she make a quilt "move like you do? I say NO! You are still the queen and I bow down to you.

Judi, when I first read this I thought, "I know what she means." Because I only quilt small pieces, my larger quilts go to a good friend who does a fabulous job quilting them on her longarm. BUT, I have to say that I wish I could do it myself! I wish I had the enthusiasm to learn. When I look at your beautiful quilting I am in awe! I never feel that I can take more than half the credit for my quilts, and when people go on and on about my talent, I have to say "The quilting is what really made it sparkle." So, I interpreted the lady's comment as saying that she did her whole quilt herself start to finish. Remember a few weeks ago when you were frustrated about being kind of slotted into the "quilter" category rather than the "designer"? I think we'd all like to do a bang-up job on the whole process, but there aren't enough hours in the day ~ or even a lifetime!!! You're an angel for sure!

I still burn over the remark that I could not enter my quilt in our village's art show "because quilts are not art." I love your work and wish I had a long arm machine too. I love to occasionally hand quilt, just for the pleasure of hand work. Can't wait to see your pieces put together. Keep on quilting...any which way!

I think there are fewer and fewer quilters who are so rigid in their thinking, fortunately. The only reason any of us quilt, however we do it, is because it makes us happy. Social media connects all of us, be we content or cranky, and we all have to learn how to deal with opinions of our work, good or bad, but we can certainly be kinder in our interactions with each other and embrace the differences that make us and our quilts special.

The machine quilting that I've seen of YOUR work...well, it's breathtaking...awesome! The machine quilting leeetle looptee-louz that I produce are NOTHING in comparison. But, my heart went into the completed piece. I've handquilted too. But, I would NVR say that machine quilting is any less difficult (or cheating)than handquilting.

Over the years, I've noticed that some people have to speak "down" about things...so as to make themselves feel more "up". Maybe they don't notice it...maybe it's because they don't feel as good about themselves if they see other people's skills as equal or betterthan their own.

Things that we make come from our hearts...to share with the hearts of others. Measuring/comparing HOW something was made...is like trying to "measure" the love in a gift.

The first question many members of our quilt guild ask is "Is it hand quilted?" and if the response is yes, there is a roll of applause. It makes those of us who are trying to perfect our machine quilting feel slapped and affronted as you were with that FB comment. It is true that we should remember that we do it with our creative talents as well, but it still makes for a difficult, non-inclusive group.

There was a time when any quilt that wasn't quilted by hand was thought of as inferior. My earliest exposure to quilters gave me the impression that machine quilting was very much looked down upon. It's too bad that silly notion still raises it ugly head once in a while. It's the mark of someone who wants to be "elite," not part of a wonderful community. For my part, I consider a top flight quilter to be someone who has mastered her or his basic and favorite advanced techniques, proven her or his creativity and consistently seeks challenges in the design and execution of quilts.The person who made that smug comment was thoughtless and, I believe, rude to the others participating in the discussion.In fact, it would have been wholely appropriate to have written a critique of her comment, pointing out that the majority of quilters today hold no such prejudiced view.A gentle, but head-on, rebuttal might help her realize that her thinking is out of touch. At the very least, others who are similarly offended know that it's OK to challenge a wrong-headed notion.

I think that the women's comment is interesting in that it shows she has no idea just how many quilts were both pieced and quilted by machine post the civil war. A little research on her side would benefit that lady.I remember my first state quilt meeting I attended. I had the privilege to sit with some "older" women [that was over 20 years ago] and being lectured by them if the quilt was not ALL done by hand it was not a quilt. I should just go to the store and buy a quilt.I smiled politely and found some where else to sit.

My grandmother heard this kind of thing all the time, and she was always undervaluing her quilts. She'd give me one and say, "Oh this one was only made on the machine." Which, being a young kid made me think it was no big deal. When I was in my early 20's I used the "only machine" quilts as drop cloths for painting. When I started sewing myself I realized how much work "only machine" was, but I couldn't take back the paint splatters. It was years of hearing comments just like that, that let me think it was okay to trash a family heirloom.

I really panic if I think of hand quilting. This means torture to my fingers and it takes me up to months beacause it's no fun and I can't bring myself to do that. I love machine quilting. First with my sewing machine and now with the longarm machine. It's another way of working but it's still HANDMADE! You use your mind and creativity as well!

Don't bother! There's always someone saying something stupid. As you can see you have so many friends here that support you, follow what you are doing and are really interested and inspired by you. Go on, you do a wonderful work!

I am doing the Free Motion Quilt Challenge so I can learn to quilt by machine. I can already stitch in the ditch by machine and make fairly evenly spaced lines, diagonal, horizontal, vertical. I consider each another tool in the box. I have hand pieced, hand cut, rotary cut, machine pieced, hand appliqued, fused applique, all sorts of tops I am learning on. I think cheating is when you buy someone else's work and claim it as your own!

I see that same type of comment over and over again on quilting forums. I figure people who are that narrow minded and opinionated about a HOBBY must lead very unhappy lives. I appreciate all types of quilting and know that time and skill went into each type. I quilt how I like to quilt and let others do the same.

From one longarm quilter to another, I love your sentiments! Quilting is my job and my passion.....and my machine is my tool, both by hand and by computer! You are never going to get a complete understanding from everyone about how much effort goes into each and every quilt until they have experienced it! Just keep doing what you are doing and be happy that you are so good at it! Best wishes!

What a dreadful thing to say...I thihnk she must be a very ignorant person in this world of quilting! You do the most beautiful work I have seen. I wouldnt worry about the comment - I'll be kind and hope it was just said in haste. your work is stunning and so inspirational... and I love machine quilting too :)

That's exactly why I would never have a judged show at the Quilt Walk. Each quilt is different...made for a different reason, but all made and quilted with love! It is a very personal thing and who has the right to say that one is better than another. We all do what we do because we love it. We are all blessed with the opportunity to be able do do it! I love it and so do you! Good for us!

Although I love the look of hand quilting, I am fine with longarm and machine quilting as well. Judi, your quilting takes long arm quilting to a new height, btw.

That said, I am always disappointed when I see a quilt done by a computerized longarm in which the quilting is a repeat. I know that this is quick, relatively easy and inexpensive. But it looks dull, and I find the perfect repeats predictable and kind of soul-less.

I do not think computerized repeat designs are cheating, but I can see why others would. Me, I just find them disappointing.

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About Me

I am Judi the Green Fairy of Green Fairy Quilts. Strange name you may think, but it is a fun story of when I was young and my mom would comment before she left anywhere that it would be nice if the Green Fairy cleaned up while she was gone. I usually took the hint and cleaned up. So, when we started to think of a name for our business, naturally Green Fairy Quilts was it. I love to quilt and love to design, so together with my husband Clint we have turned my passion into a business. Clint now runs the business while I get to spend my time taking care of our four children and making time to longarm quilt and design quilt patterns. Thanks for stopping by!